TARGET: Elementary - Olive's Ocean

[Donna Guild <donnaguild@CHARTER.NET>]

Hi Everyone,

We have recently received our site copies of one of the 2004 Newbery Honor
books, Olive's Ocean by Kevin Henkes. Some of the language used by the boys
in the story is a little "colorful", particularly the one-time use of the
word a**h***. Several of the Library Media Techs are very concerned that we
are lowering our standards for inclusion of books in the elementary
collections, and that the gratuitous use of inappropriate language is
something that we should consider in either including or excluding a title
from our elementary (K-6) libraries, even when the book is beautifully
written, and obviously well-reviewed. Serious themes and rough language seem
to be a trend in literature for young people, even at the 5th-6th grade
level, and is a topic we will need to deal with sooner or later.

If you have read this book, I would love to have your feedback on whether
you are including it in your elementary collections.

Thank you in advance for your responses.


Donna Guild, Elementary Librarian
San Luis Coastal Unified School District
San Luis Obispo, California
donnaguild@charter.net

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